Collapsible camper



' Dec. 26, 1967 L. CIESLAK 3,360,294

I COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER Filed Oqt. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LEO C/ES'LAK INVENTOR BY Baa/(Ham, BLOYRE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1967 c s 3,360,294

COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER Filed on. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,360,294 COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER Leo Cieslak, 1263 Church St. NE., Salem, Oreg. 97301 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,664 6 Claims. (Cl. 296-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible camper having an upper section vertically movable over a lower section, movement between the two sections being effected by a piston and cylinder combination located in each corner of the lower section, and having means to insure that the pistons elevate and retract at the same rate, said means including a rotatable drum and a cable associated with each of the pistons, each of the cables being attached at one of its ends to the upper end of its associated piston, the other end being adapted to be wound around the drum, whereby unwinding and winding of the cables causes uniform extension and retraction of the pistons.

This invention relates to an improved collapsible cabin or camper for trucks, one in which the roof is vertically movable or collapsible, so that the height of the cabin may be reduced when the truck is enroute from one place to another.

Collapsible campers have been disclosed wherein the roof is moved vertically by a hydraulic piston and cylin- 3,360,294 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a corner of the camper. Referring to the drawings, the collapsible camper 10 of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on a pick-up truck, generally indicated by the reference numeral 12, although obviously any other type of truck or similar vehicle may be used. The camper includes a lower section 14 supported on the truck bed 16 and an upper section 18, which is vertically movable over the lower section to form a roof for the camper. When the upper and lower sections are in spaced relation, the intervening space is enclosed by side panels 20 and 22, which are hingedly connected to the lower section 14, and by end panels 24, the rear one of which includes a door 26.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of one of the corners of the camper, showing how the side panels 20-22 and end panels 24 are held in alignment prior to the lowering of the roof 18 thereupon. A catch 160 is received into a sleeve 102, which is attached to each of the side panels 20-22. When the side panels are lifted to their vertical position, the catches 109 are in the position shown in FIG. 8. The end panels 24 are each provided with a spring bolt 104, which is attached to the panel by a screw 106. When the end panels 24 are placed in position, the spring bolts 104 ride upon the tapered surface 101 of the catches 100, and are engaged as der combination placed in each of the four corners of A the truck body. Such an arrangement permits the upper section to be raised to its proper operating height when the cylinders are supplied with hydraulic fluid from a pump. One such collapsible camper is disclosed in Hall US. Patent No. 2,879,103. Such an arrangement, however, provides no means for insuring that the four pistons elevate and retract at exactly the same rate. This is important, for if there is unequal movement of the pistons, the upper section of the camper will tilt or cock as it is raised or lowered, thereby to bind and damage the raising and lowering mechanism.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a collapsible cabin or camper having a vertically movable roof with means for insuring uniform movement of each of the four corners thereof. Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and the following specification.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible camper of the present invention, with parts broken away, shown FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the control system for raising and lowering the roof, with the cylinders and pistons shown rotated 90 for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the control system;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the control system; and

shown in FIG. 8.

The construction of the camper is such that when the upper section of roof 18 is lowered onto the side panels 2022, the depending portions 19 fit over the side panels, thereby to result in a very compact profile. This occurs because the side panels 20-22 are hinged at their inner edges 38, thereby permitting the depending portions 19 to slide down past the side panels when the roof is lowered. This is clearly shown in FIG. 1.

One of the problems encountered in campers of this type, as previously described, is that of insuring that the four sets of pistons elevate and retract at exactly the same rate to prevent binding. The raising and lowering mechanism of the present invention provides a solution to this problem. Such mechanism is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a conventional electric motor 40, which may be attached to the truck 12 in any convenient place, as to the chassis. (See FIGS. 2-4.) In FIG. 6 the motor 40 is shown mounted on a bracket 41, which is itself attached to a frame 42, which is attached to the chassis of the truck. The motor 40 is powered from the vehicles battery (not shown). The motor 40 drives a double belt 43, which in turn provides power for a hydraulic pump 44, which is also mounted on the bracket 41. The hydraulic pump 44 is connected to a reservoir 45 through a standard two-way hydraulic valve 46 by means of hydraulic lines 47, 47a and 47b. The valve 46 communicates with the cylinders 30 by means of hydraulic lines 48 and 48a. The cylinders 30 are connected to the pump 44 in parallel, as shown.

Proper tension is maintained on the double belt 43 by means of an idler arm 50, which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 41. An idler pulley 54 is rotatably mounted on the end 52 of the arm 50. The proper adjustment is maintained by an idler adjustment bracket 56, which is slotted to ride on a knurled screw 58, received in the bracket 41.

Attached to one side of the frame 42 is a smaller substantially C-shaped frame 60, having arms 62 on which are mounted two bearing blocks 64. The brackets 64 are adapted to receive a rotatable shaft 66. Mounted on the shaft 66 is a sprocket 70, which is driven by a chain 72, which in turn is driven by the motor 40. Attached to the sprocket 70 is a conventional clutch 73, which when actuated serves to rotate a winch or drum 74, which is also mounted on the shaft 66. Attached to the drum 74 at one of their ends and wound therearound are four cables 76, the other ends of which are attached to the tops of the uppermost pistons 34. (See FIG. 5.) The cables 76 are wound side by side on the drum 74, so that each may pay out individually at the same rate from the drum, thereby to restrain each of the telescoping pistons 32 and 34 from elevating at a faster rate than the others.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper section or roof 18 is mounted on four extensible corner posts 28, each of which comprises a cylinder 30 and two telescoping pistons 32 and 34. The pistons 34, which are the uppermost ones, telescope into the pistons 32, which in turn telescope into the cylinders 30. The roof 18 is raised as the pistons 32 and 34 extend from the cylinder 30.

The side panels 20 and 22 are attached to the upper portions of the uppermost pistons 34 by means of chains 36, as shown. One such chain 36 is attached to each of the four pistons 34. The other end of each chain 36 is attached to the side panels near the upper ends thereof. As the pistons 32 and 34 extend upwardly, the side panels 20 and 22 are also swung upwardly about their hinged edges 38, the side panels being pulled up by the chains 36. When the pistons are fully extended, as shown in FIG. 3, the side panels 20 and 22 are not quite in a vertical position, but must be swung thereto by hand and latched into position. The end panels 24 are then placed in position. Corner members 25 are also placed in position to cover the corner posts 28. Thereafter, the pistons 32 and 34 are permitted to contract slightly, whereupon the roof 18 nests snugly upon the side panels 20-22, the end panels 24, and the corner members 25, as shown in FIG. 4.

The side panels 20-22 and the end panels 24 are each provided with an angle iron 39, which is adapted to mate with a similar angle iron 39a installed in the depending portions 19 of the roof 18. The angle irons 39 and 39a run the full length of the side panels 20-22 and the end panels 24, thus providing a rigid seal without the necessity of using any clamps or bolts.

A brake 78 is also mounted on the shaft 66 to control the pay-out of the cables 76 from the drum 74, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Two sets of brackets 80 are also mounted on the C- shaped frame 60 as shown in FIG. 6. Rotatably attached to each of the brackets 80 are arms 81, the ends of which are connected by two springs 82, as shown. Journaled intermediate the ends of the arms 81 are two rubbercoated rollers 84 and 86, and these are mounted so as to contact the drum 74. In this manner the rubber-coated rollers 84 and 86 engage the cables 76 as the latter are wound and unwound on the drum 74, so that the cables remain snugly on the drum and do not tangle.

The controls for the raising and lowering mechanism are illustrated in FIGS. and 7. A control lever 110 is pivotally attached to the frame 111 of the truck by means of a main pin 112, which is adapted to be received in a fitting 114. A rod actuating pin 116 keyed to the lever 110 is adapted to ride in elongated slots 118a and 120a formed in the clutch actuating rod 118 and in the brake actuating rod 120, respectively. The clutch actuating rod 118 is linked to the clutch 73 by a rod 122, which is pivotally attached to the frame 111. The brake actuating rod 120 is linked to the brake 78 by a rod 123, which is also pivotally attached to the frame 111.

Rigidly attached to the main pin 114 is a clevis 124 by means of which force may be applied to a valve actuating arm 126, which is rotatably attached to a valve piston 12 8. The piston 128 actuates the two-way hydraulic valve 46, as will be further described. Two springs 130-131 resist movement of the clevis 124, as shown.

Operation of the raising and lowering mechanism will now be described. The electric motor 40 is started whenever it is desired to move the roof 18. This transmits power to the shaft 66, which in turn actuates the pump 44. To raise the roof the control lever 110 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 5, rotating around the main pin 114. The rod actuating pin 116 floats freely in the slot 118a, exerting no pressure on the clutch actuating rod 118, but bottoms in slot 120a, thereby actuating the brake 78. The clevis 124 exerts pressure on the valve actuating arm 126, against the resistance of the spring 130, thereby to cause the valve 46 to divert hydraulic fluid into the lines 48 and 48a and thus into the cylinders 30, causing the pistons 32 and 34 to elevate. The brake 78 being actuated, applies resistance to the shaft 66. As the pistons 32 and 34 elevate, the cables 76 are unwound from the drum 74. Each of the telescoping pistons 32 and 34 thus elevates at the same rate as the others, and the roof 18 is raised in a manner that causes no binding.

To lower the roof 18 the control lever is moved in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 5. In this case the rod actuating pin 116 contacts the end of the slot 118a in the clutch actuating rod 118, thereby engaging the clutch 73, but passes freely through the slot a in the brake actuating rod 120, leaving the same stationary. The valve actuating arm 126 is also pulled in the direction of the arrow B, diverting the hydraulic fluid from the cylinders 30 into the by-pass through the reservoir 45, the flow from the pump 44 also circulating through the by-pass into the reservoir 45. The clutch 73 being engaged, winds up the cables 76 on the drum 74. The rubber-coated rollers 84 and 86 apply pressure to the cables 76 and cause the cables to be wound snugly around the drum 74. All four sets of pistons 32 and 34 therefore retract at a uniform rate, the roof 18 is lowered without any tilting or cocking, and consequently there is no binding.

It should be noted that the slots 118a and 120a in the clutch rod 118 and brake rod 120, respectively, are opposite to each other with relationship to the rod activating pin 116, thereby to enable the one control lever 110 to control both the raising and lowering operations. It should also be noted that the motor 40 is switched on by rotation of the main pin 112, but other means could be used alternatively.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the structure and manner of operation of the collapsible camper will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood, of course, that changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may occur, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible cabin for mounting on a truck bed, comprising:

a lower section supported on the truck bed;

an upper section vertically movable over said lower section to form a roof for said cabin;

hydraulic means for raising and lowering said upper section, said hydraulic means comprising,

a p p, a motor to actuate said pump, and a piston and cylinder combination in each corner of said lower section, said cylinders being attached to said lower section, said pistons being attached to said upper section, extension and retraction of said pistons raising and lowering said upper section over said lower section, respectively; and means for insuring uniform vertical movement of each of said pistons during raising and lowering of said upper section, said insuring means being connected to said hydraulic means and comprising:

a rotatable drum, and

a cable associated with each of said pistons, each of said cables being attached at one of its ends to the upper end of its associated piston and at its other end to said drum, each of said cables being wound around said drum,

whereby unwinding and winding of said cables causes uniform extension and retraction of said pistons, respectively.

2. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, brake means connectable to said rotatable drum for restraining said unwinding of said cables.

3. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, clutch means connectable to said rotatable drum, said clutch means upon actuation being adapted to rotate said drum to wind said cables therearound and retract said pistons uniformly.

4. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, a roller mounted adjacent to said rotatable drum, and spring means biasing said roller toward said drum, said roller being adapted to maintain pressure on said cables as they are wound and unwound.

5. The collapsible cabin of claim 4 in which said roller is a rubber-coated roller.

6. A collapsible cabin for mounting on a truck bed, comprising:

a lower section supported on the truck bed;

an upper section vertically movable over said lower section to form a roof for said cabin;

side-wall sections, one hingedly mounted on each side of said lower section,

said side-wall sections being hinged at their inner edges so as to fold from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position, said side-wall sections when in their generally horizontal position being supported on said lower section, said side-wall sections supporting said upper section when in their generally vertical position, said upper section fitting over said side-wall sections when the latter are in their generally horizontal position;

hydraulic means for raising and lowering said upper section, said hydraulic means comprising,

a pump, a motor to actuate said pump, and a piston and cylinder combination in each corner of said lower section, said cylinders being attached to said lower section, said pistons being attached to said upper section, extension and retraction of said pistons raising and lowering 10 said upper section over said lower section, re-

spectively; second means connected to said hydraulic means for raising and lowering said side-wall sections simultaneously with said upper section, said second means comprising,

a chain attached at one end to the top of each of said pistons, the other end of each of said chains being attached to said side-wall sections near the upper ends thereof; and

means for insuring uniform vertical movement of each of said pistons during raising and lowering of said upper section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,879,103 3/1959 Hall 29623 3,286,414 11/1966 Harrison 246-26 30 1,998,937 4/1935 MCGinniS 296-26 1,964,894 7/1934 Rohne 296--26 2,168,069 8/1939 Miller 296-233 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. PHILIP GOODMAN, LEO FRIAGLIA, Examiners.

ATENT OFFICE ECTION December 26, 1967 Patent No. 3,360,294

Leo Cieslak error appears in the above numbered pat- Patent should read as rtified that t the said Letters It is hereby ce n and tha ent requiring correctio corrected below.

"As shown in" strike in line 39, same in line 15,

ing with r bolts.

"door 26."

beginn "clamps 0 same after Column 3, line 9, out all to and including column 3, and insert the column 2.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, 11'. EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE CABIN FOR MOUNTING ON A TRUCK BED, COMPRISING: A LOWER SECTION SUPPORTED ON THE TRUCK BED; AN UPPER SECTION VERTICALLY MOVABLE OVER SAID LOWER SECTION TO FORM A ROOF FOR SAID CABIN; HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID UPPER SECTION, SAID HYDRAULIC MEANS COMPRISING, A PUMP, A MOTOR TO ACUTATE SAID PUMP, AND A PISTON AND CYLINDER COMBINATION IN EACH CORNER OF SAID LOWER SECTION, SAID CYLINDERS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID LOWER SECTION, SAID PISTONS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER SECTION, EXTENSION AND RETRACTION OF SAID PISTONS RAISING AND LOWERING SAID UPPER SECTION OVER SAID LOWER SECTION, RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS FOR INSURING UNIFORM VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF EACH OF SAID PISTONS DURING RAISING AND LOWERING OF SAID UPPER SECTION, SAID INSURING MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID HYDRAULIC MEANS AND COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE DRUM, AND A CABLE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID PISTONS, EACH OF SAID CABLES BRING ATTACHED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO THE UPPER END OF ITS ASSOCIATED PISTON AND AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID DRUM, EACH OF SAID CABLES BEING WOUND AROUND SAID DRUM, WHEREBY UNWINDING AND WINDING OF SAID CABLES CAUSES UNIFORM EXTENSION AND RETRACTION OF SAID PISTONS, RESPECTIVELY. 